Queen Elizabeth Topic One Overall

Question 1

Who were nobility

Answer 1

Wealthiest landowners who had huge local influence. Around 50 families.

Question 2

Gentry

Answer 2

People who owned land and lived off of it

Question 3

Yeomen

Answer 3

Farmers who owned their own land

Question 4

Tenant farmers

Answer 4

Farmers who rented land

Question 5

Who were landless/labouring poor

Answer 5

Usually employed as an agricultural worker on a seasonal basis.

Question 6

Who were merchants and professionals

Answer 6

Wealthy, they were at the top. Around 30,000 families. (Professionals include jobs like doctors, teachers and lawyers)

Question 7

Who were skilled craftsmen

Answer 7

Could be wealthy business owner or skilled employees. Organised in guilts.

Question 8

The social hierarchy of Elizabethan England

Answer 8

Nobility > gentry > yeomen > tenant farmers > landless labourers > vagrants

Question 9

Hierarchy of towns in Elizabethan England

Answer 9

Merchants > Professionals > Business owners > Skilled craftsmen > Unskilled workers > unemployed

Question 10

Who was the head of the government and what could they do?

Answer 10

The Monarch who could declare war and make peace, also call and dismiss parliament.

Question 11

National government : the court

Answer 11

Body of people who lived in or near the palace or house of the monarch. Made up of nobles and had to entertain and advise monarch.

Question 12

The Privy Council

Answer 12

Group of 20 of Queens most trusted councillors. They advised her and carried out wishes. Made up of courtiers and advisors and they met at least once a week. They also monitors JPs and parliament.

Question 13

Secretary of State

Answer 13

Most important member of the Privy Council who advised the Queen on important matters

Question 14

Justices of Peace (JPs)

Answer 14

Large landowners who kept law and order. Unpaid but was a position of status, they reported to the Privy Council. They oversaw social and economic policies.

Question 15

Lord Lieutenants

Answer 15

Chosen by the monarch in each county. They were members of nobility and on privy council. In charge of local military training and oversaw enforcement of policies.

Question 16

Parliament

Answer 16

Made up of members of nobility and gentry. QR needed consent to pass laws and raise tax.

Question 17

Three doubts about why Elizabeth was Queen

Answer 17

• Women were viewed as weak
• Seen as illegitimate
• She was unmarried and without an heir

Question 18

Why was being a woman a problem for Elizabeth

Answer 18

Women were seen as having to be obedient and domestic as they were physically inferior. Her sister seemed to prove thoughts that women weren’t fit to rule as she was a very unpopular ruler. She needed to prove herself as a good leader to win over her critics.

Question 19

Why was illegitimacy a problem for Elizabeth

Answer 19

Henry VIII became head of theEnglish Church so he could divorce Catherine of Aragon, but Catholics believed only the Pope could authorise a divorce, so Elizabeth’s parents marriage was invalid. Elizabeth could do very little about this problem as she couldn’t change the validity of her parents marriage

Question 20

Why was Elizabeth being unmarried and without an heir a problem

Answer 20

People expected Elizabeth would Marry quickly and have heirs to the throne. In the first two weeks of her reign Elizabeth turned down two potential suitors as her and the council were focused on the Religious Settlement and the war with France. She chose not to marry as it would cause more problems, as nobles would get jealous and become angry, and all foreign suitors were Catholic. She presented herself as the Virgin Queen who was married to England

Question 21

Why was there financial weakness and why was it a problem for Elizabeth

Answer 21

Elizabeth inherited a £300,000 debt and Edward VI’s and Mary I’s war with France had been very expensive. The annual income of the crown was 285,000.
It was a problem because the monarch in the 16th century had to pay for the costs of running the country and the royal household.

Question 22

Where could the monarch potentially get money from?

Answer 22

• Rent of sale of crown lands
• Fines given by judges
• Customs duties on imports
• Additional taxes which had to be agreed by parliament

Question 23

Why was there no easy solution for financial weakness?

Answer 23

• Rents were fixed and couldn’t be increase
• Mary I had already sold lots of land already to pay her debts
• Inflation was rising and the poor could not afford to pay any higher tax
• She didn’t want to introduce taxes for the gentry and nobility as she could lose their support
• Asking the parliament to introduce new taxes would give them too much power

Question 24

The Privy Council as a problem for Elizabeth

Answer 24

• The privy council was very important as they advised her on big decisions and some had very important jobs, like Lord Treasurer, who was in charge of the crowns finances.
• She needed to chose a loyal council and if she got it wrong she could alienate some of the most powerful men in the country.
• She had to consider issues like whether she should keep Catholic councillors due to their experience or not, and also how to stay in charge considering she was a woman.

Question 25

France and Scotland as a problem for Elizabeth

Answer 25

• They were linked due to Mary Queen of Scots marriage to the heir of the French Throne and the fact they were both Catholic countries
• There was a threat of French invasion as they would want a Catholic on the throne, and could invade on Mary Queen of Scots behalf
• If she continued the war a military victory would be a great start to her reign and making peace would make her look weak.
• However if she made peace with France defeat would start her reign off badly and take up the governments time, they were only fighting as Mary I wanted to support Philip which Elizabeth had no interest in doing.

Question 26

Poverty as a problem for Elizabeth

Answer 26

• Poverty was increasing as England was suffering high levels of inflation, which became worse in the 1550s. The wool trade collapse on 1550 and many lost their jobs. Enclosures meant less labourers were needed so agricultural workers lost their jobs
• Henry VIII had closed England’s monasteries meaning their was less help for the poor as monks had supported them as part as their duty to god
• If Elizabeth did nothing she could become unpopular and those living in hardship were more likely to join a rebellion

Question 27

Response to the French problem

Answer 27

Peace was signed with France in 1559, three months after she became Queen in the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis, and Calais was lost forever

Question 28

Response to the problem of poverty

Answer 28

After several bad harvests in the years prior, there was a very good harvest in 1558 which gave Elizabeth breathing space. As Elizabeth couldn’t control the weather all she could do was hope for good harvests.

Question 29

Privy Council as a problem response

Answer 29

She appointed William Cecil her Secretary of State. She quickly chose the rest of her council aiming for 20 men rather than Mary I’s 50, she was very cautious in her choices. For example she didn’t choose her friend Robert Dudley as it would cause jealousy. She thanked all of the past councillors for their support to try keep them on her side.

Question 30

Religion was so important in peoples lives because?

Answer 30

Religion was a significant part of peoples everyday lives, and people believe their choice of religion would decide where their souls went when they died and any who followed the wrong religion would go to hell

Question 31

Features of Catholicism

Answer 31

Wanted to keep the Pope in Rome as Head of the Church and have a structure with cardinals bishops and archbishops. Wanted to show glory of God with elaborate decoration, believed the clergy should not marry and wear richly robes called vestments. Wanted the Bible only in Latin and church services with Latin Mass

Question 32

Features of Protestantism

Answer 32

Wanted monarch as head of church, did not think money should be spent on decoration in church, believe the clergy could marry and should wear plain gown, wanted the bible in english

Question 33

Features of Puritanism

Answer 33

Did not believe in a Head of Church, wanted a plain and simple church so not distracted, clergy should wear plain black gowns, wanted the Bible in English which everyone could read

Question 34

Reasons religious division was a problems

Answer 34

• They could weaken the country with conflict or even civil war
• Threat of rebellion
• Threats from powerful catholic countries and the Pope
• Situation in 1558, Catholic dominance but hopeful Protestant and Puritans. (Phillip and Pope unpopular due to burning of 300 protestants and lots of people didn’t except religious)
• Compromise would be difficult

Question 35

Features of the Religioud Settlement

Answer 35

The Act of Uniformity
-Everyone had to attend Church on holy days and Sunday and there was a fine of one shilling if you didn’t
-Bread and wine were to be offered during services (Puritans would be displeased)
Royal Injunctions
-A Protestant Book of Common Prayer written in English was to be used in all church services
-Each church had to have a copy of the Bible in English

Question 36

How were Puritans opposed to the Religious Settlement

Answer 36

• Bishops running the Church and Elizabeth being the head
• The music, stained glass windows, pictures and statues as they wanted plain churches
• Wording of the new prayer books as they thought the presence of Jesus in the communion was spiritual not physical.
• Puritans wanted the parish clergy to wear only plain black gowns

Question 37

How did Catholics oppose to the Religious Settlement

Answer 37

They were opposed because the omission of the Catholic mass could risk their chance of going to heaven and some catholics opposed by attending a secret mass in a house or refused to go to the services at all (recusants) Not a significant threat because they had no support from the Pope or foreign powers.

Question 38

Three ways the Catholic threat to Elizabeth incearsed

Answer 38

Elizabeth supports Protestants in Scotland - The Lord did not like the French Catholic influence in their country so they rebelled against the French rules in the 1550s led by John Knox. In 1560 QE sent troops and money to support the rebels.
Trade Embargo - In 16th century the Netherlands be,kinged to Spain and he banned the import of English cloth to the Netherlands in 1563 as he believed the English merchants would spread Protestantism there. Elizabeth retaliated by ceasing trade with the Netherlands. This lasted for around a year.
Sea beggars sheltered - Some Dutch rebels fled to the water to attack Spanish ships carrying men and resources, they were known as sea beggars. In 1567 Elizabeth began allowing the Sea Beggars to shelter in English harbours. After the revolt was crushed in 1568 thousands of dutch protestants fled to england and elizabeth condemned them as not to anger philip.

Question 39

Three reasons threat French invasion was decreased

Answer 39

Civil war in France weakened itself, French being defeated by Scotland so they had to go home and the death of Mary’s French husband on 1560.

Question 40

What did Protestant reformers believe?

Answer 40

• Christian’s were saved by faith and not by good deeds
• Questions the authority of the Pope
• Translated the Bible from Latin into languages that ordinary people could understand
• Thought churches should be plain and simple unlike highly decorated Catholic churches

Question 41

Outline the aims of the Revolt of the Northern Earls

Answer 41

The rebels wanted to re-establish Catholicism as the country’s religion, at the start of the revolt they stormed into Durham Cathedral and held a Catholic revolt and wore catholic badges and emblems.
The Earls had lost power in the North due to Elizabeth, the Earl of Northumberland had lost an important as Warden of the Middle March. He had also lost copper mines costing him money in 1567. He also lost land to his rival in the North and a Southern Protestant.
They wanted rid of evil councillors like Cecil who they blamed for religious changes and their loss of political power, also Elizabeth only kept 10 of Mary’s Catholic Privy Council members.

Question 42

Outline the Events of the Revolt of the Northern Earls

Answer 42

9-15 November (1659) - The Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland ordered all their tenants, the workers on their lands, to join their army and march south. They stormed into Durham Cathedral destroyed Protestant prayer books and held Catholic mass. Catholic nobles in Lancashire and Cheshire refused to join.
22-30 November - They marched to Bramham Moor but MQS had been moved to a prison near coventry. They turned back when they heard about the Earl of Sussex’s army of 10,000. They captured the Port of Hartlepool, hoping that Spanish troops would support them but nobody came.
16-19 December - The army reached the River Tees and the rebels fled. The earls escaped to Scotland but Northumberland was handed over and behead. Westmorland escaped abroad and around 450 rebels were executed.

Question 43

Ridolfi Plot 1571

Answer 43

Aims ; Restore Catholicism by Spain invading England causing English Catholics to rebel and MQS to be Queen with Duke of Norfolk
Foreign support : The Spanish were going to supply an army however they weren’t enthusiastic.
It failed because the main conspirators name were given to Elizabeth they also intercepted letters sent by MQS which implicated her and Norfolk. He was executed nothing happened to MQS.

Question 44

Throckmorton Plot 1583

Answer 44

Aims ; Assassinating Elizabeth and replacing her MQS by creating an uprising in the North of England which would happen with an led by the French Duke of Guise and financially supported by Spain. It was supported by the Pope
It was uncovered when Throckmorton was out under surveillance and then the government ordered his arrest. His house was searched and papers were found showing plans and uncovering Catholic nobles who were in on it.
It was discovered by Elizabeth’s government before it could reach the public so nobody knew about it to support it.
The Spanish Embassador Mendoza was expelled

Question 45

Why was MQS executed?

Answer 45

Aims ; Murder Elizabeth, Make Mary Queen and restore Catholicism
In July 1586 Babington wrote to Mary outlining six steps to free the country from Protestantism detailing Spain invading with an army.
They planned to kill elizabeth with a joint spanish and french force. The Duke of Guise would invade England with 60,000 men. The Pope supported this plan.
Spies were placed in Mary’s household who persuaded her leaving and receiving letters in beer barrels were safe and they were intercepted and sent to Walshingham.
The plotters were rounded up, tried and condemned to death for treason. They were then executed in September 1586.
Mary was moved to Fotheringhwy Castel to begin her trial. The hearing took many weeks. At the end of October Mary was guilty and it was recommended she should be w executed

Question 46

Why was Elizabeth hesitant to execute MQS?

Answer 46

She believed in Divine Right so she believed God picked her to rule Scotland.

Question 47

Who was Francis Walsingham? Name three of his methods

Answer 47

He was the spymaster and Elizabeth’s secretary of state.

• Placed informers in suspects’ household and employed a man who could re-seal letters so the plotters wouldn’t know they had been intercepted and a code breaker.
• In England there were spies and informants in every county and important town, the Lord Lieutenants and the bishops officially reported threats to Walshingham. There were also agents with code names overseas.
• Used torture in serious cases, like Throckmorton who was tortured on the rack for information and then executed. In 1580 at least 6 priests were taken to the tower and tortured. 130 priests and 60 of their supporters were executed during elizabeth’s reign.

Question 48

Significance of the Babington

Answer 48

• Resulted in MQS execution
• The government attempted to crush Catholicism by way of mass arrests of recusants, with over 300 in North London and 31 priests being executed.
• Abroad Catholic opposition abroad and due to spain and england being at war there was a bigger chance of invasion.

Question 49

What was the Bond of Associstion

Answer 49

Declaration stating anyone who attempted to overthrow QE would be executed and anyone who would have benefited from her death would be punished.

Question 50

Why did English and Spanish relations decline

Answer 50

• Religious rivalry ; Passed laws against Catholics in 1581 that stated recusants could now be fined £20 and attempting to convert people to Catholicism was now treason. Catholic abroad priests were smuggled into catholic homes, that were raided and risked the priests being hanged, drawn and quartered.
• Political rivalry ; Treasure from the New World and owning land there made Spain the most powerful country in the world. Elizabeth sent an army to the Netherlands led by the Earl of Leicester and Drake captured two wealthy towns from Spain and took £30,000 which angered Philip.
• Trade and Commercial Rivalry ; Elizabeth hired Francis Drake as a privateer. In 1572 he captured £20,000 from Nombre de Dios. In 1577 he was given direct orders to attack Epnaieh colonies in the New World, and he returned with £400,000 of treasure and was knighted

Question 51

QE in the Netherlands

Answer 51

Elizabeth applied pressure by stealing from the Spanish and proposed a marriage alliance to the Duke of Alençon
In 1572 the rebels renew their campaign and want independence from Spain. In 1576 Spain are out of money from campaign and Elizabeth. Soldiers who weren’t getting paid looted antwerp, killing 7,000 (Spanish Fury) This caused all 17 Dutch Provinces to want the Spanish gone. Elizabeth sent £100,000 to the rebels.
Philip agreed to Pacifcation of Ghent but attacked again 6 months later. John Casmir was sent with an army of 6,000 but it backfired as the army attacked Dutch Catholics which made them make peace with Spain for protection
Duke of Alençon is sent to invade but he comes back and dies after failing against Parma
William of Orange is assassinated a month later
France and Spain sign treaty of Joinville to try crush Protestantism and in 1585 Elizabeth sends the English army

Question 52

Why did the Spanish Armada fail

Answer 52

• English Preparation ; Every county was ordered to provide soldiers to defend the coast, warning beacons were set up, and sent the news to Elizabeth when the Armada was spotted off the Coast of Cornwall. They had 54 battleships and 140 converted merchant ships. They were faster and easier to manoeuvre as they were newly designed by John Hawkins. English cannons had larger range and could fire consecutively
• Weather ; After the BOGL the wind changed and forced the Spanish ships into the North Sea and the attack was called off. One their way back over 40 ships were wrecked off the coasts of Scotland and Ireland and thousands of sailors either drowned or were killed by local inhabitants. Only 80 ships made it back to Spain. The wind also carried the 8 unmanned ships set on fire towards the spanish fleet causing them to panic and break their crescent formation at Calais.
• Singeing of the King of Spain’s beard ; April 1587 Drake sailed into Cadiz Harbour and heavily damaged Spanish ships. (30 ships were damaged). Drake then went onto destroy Portuguese ships with materials needed for making barrels that would hold the Armadas food supplies. He then captured the San Felipe and returned to England with money £114,000. This bought England another 12 months to prepare their defences.

Question 53

Outline BOGL

Answer 53

On the 8th August 1588, Lord Howard gave the order to attack. The battle was fought in poor weather conditions with rough seas and poor visibility. Many of the Spanish ships were damaged or lost and 1,000 sailors were killed. No English ships were lost.